102 



: 6nio Journal of Science [Vol. XIX, No. 2, 



any reason for suspecting the presence of such streams. Neither 

 in the Valley itself nor in the country round about does one 

 meet with evidences of underground water in any volume. 

 It is a sandstone country whose strata, whenever exposed, 

 appear unusually dry. No springs have been found, except 

 in glacial or landslide debris. Since this view cannot be 

 supported with evidence, it will be advisable to defer its con- 

 sideration until some other aspects of the problem, concerning 

 which there are more tangible data, may be taken up. 



Photograph by R. F. Griggs 



THE RIVER LETHE CROSSING A LINE OF FUMAROLES. 



The steam in places actually bubbles up through the cold water. The volcanoes 



and the surface drainage manifestly have no connection with each other. 



In the first place it will be advisable to consider the magni- 

 tude of the phenomena to be accounted for. The number of 

 vents mounts up, literally, to several millions. Of these there 

 are several hundred whose steam columns trail along before the 

 constant wind for over a mile. (See page 100). 



Many of these come forth from throats several feet in 

 diameter. The largest, aside from Novarupta, which is a 

 typical volcano, pours out of a yawning chasm about 20 

 feet across. Despite the size of the throat, the rush of the 



